Oiling system for axles



Nov. Z5, 1941.

R. S. TAYLOR OILING SYSTEM FOR AXLES Filed Nov. 28, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet l H/ ATTORNEY Nov. 25, 1941. R. s. TAYLOR `OILINGr SYSTEM FOR AXLES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 28, 1938 @NM/.w @m M Patented Nov. 25, 194i UN'ED STATES PATENT AOFFEFE .OILING SYSTEM FOR AXLES Robert S. Taylor, Seattle, Wash.

Application November 28, 1938', Serial No. 242,716

11 Claims.

My invention relates to the lubrication of the rear axle of an automobile; and more particularly to a system for oiling a speed change axle.

The broad object of the invention is to provide means in the axle housing for drawing oil from a reservoir in the bottom of the housing and feeding it to the gear parts.

Another object is to provide an oil pump having a moving element mounted on a rotating part of the axle.

A further object is to provide an oil pump of the character described having an inlet submerged in the oil of the reservoir and having an outlet discharging into the gear system of the axle.

The invention possesses other objects and features of advantage, some of which, with the foregoing, will be set forth in the following description of my invention. It is to be understood that I do not limit myself to this disclosure of species of my invention, as I may adopt variant embodiments thereof within the scope of the claims. y

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal horizontal sectional View f a speed change axle embodying the improvements of my invention; and

Figure 2 is a fragmentary longitudinal vertical sectional View of the same showing the pump structure in a plane at right angles to that of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a transverse vertical sectional view of the axle, taken in a plane indicated by the line 3--3 of Figure 2, showing the pumping chamber and impellers. In this View the chamber mounting keys and springs which lie in front of the plane of section are indicated by dot and dash lines.

Figure 4 is a detail sectional View taken longitudinally through one of the pumping chamber mounting keys and springs.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary longitudinal vertical sectional View of an axle, similar to Figure 3, showing a modified means for feeding oil into the axle rotor; and

Figure 6 is a transverse vertical sectional view of the same, taken in a plane indicated by the line 6 6 of Figure 5.

The lubrication of axles, particularly speed change axles, has presented a dimcult problem. It has been the practice to scrape oil from a rotating part, such as the rotor carrying the master gear, and then allowing this collected oil to flow by gravity down into an end of the rotor for oiling the internal gearing. Such gravity flow systems have proven inadequate, especially for speed change axles where the high speed planet pinions require positive lubrication. My improved oiling system eliminates gravity flow and provides a positive oil feed from the housing into the rotor.

In terms of broad inclusion, the axle embodying my invention comprises a housing providing a reservoir for holding oil, a gearing, and pump means operatively connected with the gearing for drawing oil directly from the reservoir and feeding it to the gearing. The oil pump preferably comprises an element mounted for movement with a rotor enclosing the gearing, and has an inlet submerged in the oil of the reservoir and an outlet discharging into the rotor.

In greater detail, and referring to Figures 1 to 4 of the drawings, the preferred embodiment of my invention comprises an axle having a specially constructed housing portion 2 mounted on the inner side of the ordinary axle housing 3 of an automobile. The usual cover plate 4 is provided on the outer side of the axle housing. Housing portion 2 is designed to carry the entire axle mechanism, and for this purpose is provided with a pair of annular end brackets 6 and I positioned within and in axial alignment with the axle housing 3.

Drive shaft 8 which connects with the propeller shaft projects into housing portion 2; and the driven shafts or axles 9 and Il! project in through the annular supporting brackets 6 and l. The housing provides a reservoir for oil in the bottom thereof, in the usual manner; the oil level being indicated by a dot and dash line I i in Figure 2.

A differential gear system connects the axle shafts, and comprises a pair of differential gears I2 splined on the opposing ends of the axles. Differential pinion I3 is journaled on an arm I4 of spider I6, the core of which is annular to clear the ends of the axles. The differential assembly is enclosed in a casing I'I journaled on the hubs of gears I2 with suitable bearing plates I8 interposed between the casing and other parts. Differential casing Il is split transversely along pinion axis, and the halves of the casing are clamped about arms I4 of the spider by suitable studs I9.

A planetary gear system is also provided for speed change, and comprises a planet pinion 2'3 journaled on a shaft 24. One end of the pinion shaft is mounted on differential casing I'I, and the other end is carried by a bearing ring 26 'encircling axle shaft 9. Several of these planet pinions are provided. At points intermediate the pinions the bearing ring 26 is rigidly fastened to the differential casing by a pin 28 anchored in a lug portion 29 of the casing structure.

A rotor is provided for enclosing both the planetary and differential gear systems, and comprises an annular central portion 3| encircling the planet pinions 23. The rotor also comprises bell-shaped end portions 32 and 33 fastened together with central portion 3l clamped therebetween by bolts 34. End portion 32 embraces the diiferential gear system and has a flange 36 journaled in a bearing 31 held by bracket 1. Hub 38 of the adjacent differential gear l2 is also journaled in this end of the rotor, and a bearing plate 39 is interposed between the rotor and differential casing I1. A suitable retaining ring 4I is threaded into the outer end of bracket 1 to hold bearing 31 and also to keep oil from running out of this end of the housing.

Theother end portion 33 of the rotor has a flange 42 journaled in a bearing 43 held by bracket 6. A retaining ring 44 is threa-ded into the outer end of this bracket, and is held securely by a strap 46 bolted to the bracket. This endof the rotor embraces the outer ends of pinion shafts 24, and provides a journal for bearing r-ing 26. An annular bearing plate 41 is provided between the periphery of ring 26 and the rotor.

Suitable teeth are formed on the inside of central rotor portion 3l to provide the orbit gear 43 of the planetary system, meshed with planet pinion 23. Teeth are also formed on the outside of this central rotor section to provide the master gear 49, meshed with driving pinion I on drive shaft 8. The latter is journaled in bearings 53 carried by a collar 54 bolted on housing portion 2. Additional support is provided for the driving pinion by a bearing 56 mounted on bracket 51 By this arrangement the rotor carrying orbit gear 48 functions to drive planet pinion 23 whenever drive pinion 5l is rotating.

Means are provided for cutting the planetary system into and out of the drive. For this purpose a sleeve 5B is slidably mounted in rotor section 33 and on axle 9. Sleeve 58 projects through bearing ring 26 and has teeth formed on its inner end meshed with planet pinion 23 to provide the sun gear 59 of the planetary system. Teeth 6l are also formed on the inside of the retaining ring or fixed element 44, and complementary teeth 62 are formed on sleeve 58 to mesh therewith.

When these latter teeth are meshed, as shown in Figure l, sun gear 59 is held against rotation and pinion 23 is caused to planetate about the sun gear when orbit gear 43 is driven. Under these conditions diiferential casing I1 is rotated at a reduced speed, giving an underdrive.

Suitable teeth 63 are also formed on the inside of the bearing ring 26, with which sun gear 59 meshes upon outward shifting of the sleeve. When this shifting occurs the teeth 62 move out of engagement with the teeth on the xed element. Under these conditions planet pinion 23 is prevented from rotating about its own axis, and the differential casing l1 and orbit gear 48 are locked together for rotation as a unit. This gives a direct drive to the differential system, and results in a speed which is higher than when the planetary system is functioning. f

Means are provided for shifting sleeve 56 to optionally engage it with either the iixed element 44 (for underdrive) or bearing ring 26 (for direct drive). The shifting mechanism comprises a yoke 66 engaging an annular groove 61 in sleeve 58. Yoke 66 is mounted on a shaft 68 journaled in the housing, and the shaft is provided with a crank 69 connected with a suitable shifting lever in the drivers compartment by a connecting rod 1|.

The oiling system, which is the principal feature of my invention, comprises a pump interposed between the left hand end of the rotor (as viewed in Figure l) and the housing. The pumping chamber of the pump is formed by an annular channel-shaped element 12 mounted on housing portion 2 with the open face of the channel facing the side of rotor portion 33. This element is pressed against the rotor by springs 13 compressed between the element and housing.

An annular flange 16 on the rotor projects into channel element 12, and the upper side of the channel is pressed down against this flange by a pair of springs 11 alongside the element. The channel element is held against rotation by keys 18 seated in ways cut in the element and housing, and the springs 11 are preferably compressed between the ends of these keys and the housing. See Figure 4. By this arrangement, channel element 12 is held eccentrically of fiange 16 to form a crescent-shaped pumping chamber 19 therebetween, and at the same time the parts are resiliently pressed together to seal the chamber.

The lower end of pumping chamber 19 is submerged in the oil of the housing reservoir, as shown in Figure 2, and an intake opening 89 is provi-ded in element 12 below the oil level Il. A plurality of, say three, impellers 82 are slidably mounted in slots cut in ange 16 and extend between the peripheral surfaces of the channel element. When the rotor rotates counterclockwise as viewed in Figure 3 these impellers sweep around the pumping chamber, sliding back and forththrough flange'16 as the pumping chamber narrows down and then widens out again.

Oil drawn into the pumping chamber through the intake is driven aroundby the impellers, and as the chamber narrows down this oil is forced into the rotor through outlets 83 disposed ahead of each impeller and ported into the rotor. Each outlet is preferably provided with a check valve 84, which may simply be a fiat spring fastened at one end to the inside of the rotor and overlying the port. As shown in Figure 1, bearing ring 26 has an annular groove 86 lying inside the ports 83 for receiving oil and to provide clearance for the check valves. Annular bearing plates 85 are also preferably positioned alongside the groove to provide a bearing for the end of ring 26.

Each of the planet pinion shafts 24 is provided with a longitudinal passage 81 communieating between oil groove 86 and the interior of the differential casing. Transverse passages 68 are also provided in shafts 24 for lubricating the planet pinions. If desired the longitudinal passages 81 may be somewhat restricted at the inner ends as indicated at 89, to build up a pressure behind the oil at the planet pinions, it being understood that these high speed planet pinions are the critical points for lubrication in a speed change axle.

An outlet Si] is provided at the opposite end oi the diierential casing, through which the oil after circulating through the differential gears passes out into the rotor proper. The oil then circulates back between the diierential casing and rotor to the planetary gear system. An outlet 9| for the rotor is preferably provided between the rotor and shiftable sleeve 58, through which the oil discharges backvinto the housing. This outlet groove may have a smaller discharge capacity than the pump outlets, thereby causing an oil pressure to build up in the entire rotor to insure ample lubrication of all the moving parts.

Figures and 6 show a modified axle, illustrating another type of pump. In this structure a series of pump apertures 92 are provided in the end of rotor 33. These apertures are disposed in a circle concentric with the rotor, and the lower apertures are submerged in the oil of the reservoir so that the apertures run in the oil as the rotor rotates; the oil level being indicated by dot and dash line 3 in Figure 5. The apertures are preferably inclined to pick up oil in the reservoir and force it into the rotor. In other words, the inclined walls of the apertures function asl impeller blades.

Means are also preferably provided for further increasing the efciency of the pump. For this purpose a ring fiange 94 is formed integrally on the outer end of rotor 33 to project into the space between rotor and housing, and the ring is positioned just inside the circle of apertures 92 so that the ring also runs in the oil. An arcuate shoe having a concentric section S6 and an eccentric section 9? is arranged on the housing to embrace ring S. Section 96 of the shoe forms a tapered channel between the ring and shoe so that oil picked up by the ring is squeezed out through apertures 92. The lower end of shoe section 91 is preferably below the oil level in the reservoir, so that the intake of the tapered pumping channel is submerged in the oil. In this structure ring 94 movable with the rotor is a pump element operating on the adhesion pickup principle.

Concentric section S5 of the shoe is preferably formed integrally with the rotor since it may be readily machined with the rotor. Excentric section 97 is preferably formed as a separate piece to facilitate machining the parts, and is mounted on the housing by suitable means, as by pins 98.

In both pump structures I have shown the general combination of elements is the same; namely, a pumping element connected for movement with the rotor of the axle, an intake for the pump submerged in the oil of the -reservoir, and an outlet for the pump ported into the rotor, whereby oil is drawn from the reservoir and discharged directly into the rotor.

I claim:

1. An axle comprising a housing providing a reservoir for holding oil, a gear system, a rotor in the housing and enclosing said gear system, an oil collector ring on the rotor for running in the oil of the reservoir, an aperture in the rotor adjacent said ring, and a shoe embracing the ring for squeezing the collected oil through said aperture.

2. An axle comprising a housing providing a reservoir for holding oil, a gear system, a rotor in the housing and enclosing said gear system, an oil collector ring on the rotor for running in the oil of the reservoir, a shoe on the housing and embracing the ring to form a tapered pumping channel between the ring and shoe, and an aperture in the rotor to admit oil from said pumping channel into the rotor.

3. A speed change axle comprising a housing providing a reservoir for holding oil, a pair of shafts projecting into the housing, a differential gear system connecting the shafts, a planetary gear system connected with said differential system and having a planet pinion shaft, a passage through said pinion shaft, a rotor in the housing and enclosing the gear systems, and a pump having a fixed chamber portion and an element connected for movement with the rotor for drawing oil from said reservoir and feeding it into the rotor through said pinion shaft passage.

4. A speed change axle comprising a housing providing a reservoir for holding oil, a pair of shafts projecting intok the housing, a differential gear system connecting the shafts, a planetary gear system connected with said differential system and having a planet pinion shaft, a rotor in the housing and enclosing the gear systems, a pump having a fixed chamber portion and an element connected for movement with the rotor, said pump having an intake submerged in the oil of said reservoir and having an outlet ported into said rotor, and a passage in the pinion shaft communicating at one end with said pump outlet.

5. A speed change axle comprising a housing providing a reservoir for oil, a dierential gear system in the housing and having a differential casing, a planetary gear system associated with the differential system and having a planet pinion shaft, a passage through said shaft communicating with the interior of the differential caslng, and a pump for drawing oil from the reservoir and forcing it into the differential casing through said pinion shaft passage, a portion of said pump being fixed to said housing.

6. A speed change axle comprising a housing providing a reservoir for oil, a differential gear system in the housing and having a differential casing, a planetary gear system associated with the differential system and having a planet pinion shaft, a pump having a fixed chamber portion with an intake submerged in the oil of the reservoir and having an outlet for discharging the oil under pressure, and a passage in said pinion shaft communicating at one end with the pump outlet and at the other end with the interior of the differential casing.

7. A speed change axle comprising a housing for holding oil, a differential gear system in the housing and having a differential casing, a planetary gear system associated with the differential system and having a planet pinion shaft mounted on the differential casing, a rotor enclosing the gear systems, an oil passage through the pinion shaft and discharging into the differential casing, an oil pump outside the rotor and having a pumping chamber disposed about the rotor axis, and an outlet for the pump ported throughthe rotor wall and communicating with the pinion shaft passage for delivering oil into the differential casing.

8. A speed change axle comprising a housing providing a reservoir for holding oil, a differential gear system in the housing, a planetary gear system associated with the differential system and having a planet pinion shaft, an oil passage in the pinion shaft for feeding oil to the gear systems, an oil pump having a pumping chamber with a fixed wall and a movable wall, and an outlet in the movable wall and communicating with the pinion shaft passage.

9. A speed change axle comprising a housing providing a reservoir for holding oil, a differential gear system in the housing, a planetary gear system associated with the differential system and having a planet pinion shaft, an oil passage in the pinion shaft and arranged to deliver oil to said differential gear system, an oil pump having an outlet communicating with the pinion shaft passage, and an intake for the pump submerged in the main body of oil in the reservoir.

l0. A gearing comprising a planetary gear system having a planet pinion shaft, an oil passage in the shaft, a rotor enclosing said gear system, an annular oil passage Within the rotor and communicating with the interior of the rotor through said shaft passage, an aperture in a wall of the rotor and ported into said annular passage, and an oil pump outside the rotor for discharging oil into the annular passage through said aperture.

11. A gearing comprising a housing providing a reservoir for holding oil, a rotor in the housing, a gear system within the rotor, a pump for feeding oil into the rotor to lubricate said gear system and having a portion fixed to the housing, a passage for directing the oil in a confined path extending from the pump and ported into the rotor to discharge directly Within the latter so that the oil is delivered under pressure into said rotor, and a movable pumping element operatively connected with the rotor and movable relative thereto.

ROBERT S. TAYLOR. 

